Ladoga Ridge Winery is a family-owned boutique winery located 1.6 miles from downtown Smithville. The winery is surrounded by a beautiful 4-acre vineyard and offers free wine tastings. We had a Social Living coupon for the tasting which included the wine, cheese and crackers and Ladoga Ridge Wine glasses.
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This is Elmer, the Elm tree which is situated just outside the front of the Winery, Elmer is more than 100 years old. Named after a previous owner of the property, Elmer Smith, the tree has a circumference of 15 feet.
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This was our wine server. She served us 10 wines explaining each one. We bought The Chococherry Kiss, a black cherry chocolate, dessert wine to have with our cheese and crackers after we finished our glass of wine provided with the wine tasting.
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With one of the wines we had a piece of dark chocolate in between sips to show how it would change the taste of the wine. We also had a tiny peanut butter cup and it made the wine taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
This is the view by the fire pit and a chicken that was willing to eat crackers if you want to share.
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There is outdoor furniture placed throughout the vineyard to create spaces to enjoy the wine, scenery and time with friends.
Here we are at the winery front door with Fred & Lupe. In September Ladoga Ridge does special wine slushies. On the day we visited they had strawberry rhubarb and blackberry. They were very good.